Standard Lemma guide

birl

noun · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /bɝl/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • UK: /bɜːl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)l

1

noun

Meaning 1

A type of grace note movement that quickly switches between low-A and low-G several times, producing a low rippling sound.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: bagpipes

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A girl of boyish appearance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Internet

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To spin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Scotland, ambitransitive

Examples

  • 1906, Neil Munro, The Vital Spark, reprinted in 1958, Para Handy Tales, "I'll maybe no trouble you long, boys," he moaned lugubriously. "My heid's birling roond that fast that I canna even mind my own name two meenutes."

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To cause (a floating log) to rotate by treading on it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To throw down a coin as one's share in a joint contribution.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

Alternative form of birle (“to drink, carouse”).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

cause to spin

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • spin a coin

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: whirl, spin, twirl

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rotate, circumvolve

8

verb

Meaning 8

cause a floating log to rotate by treading

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: birle

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rotate, circumvolve

History

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English birlen.

Blend of boy + girl.

See birle.